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About The American. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1891-1899 | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1898)
THE! AMERICAN. THE WANDERING JEW. oiiaptku xxxi. V K I K N l I. Y K H V I C K S. "Otherwise called Meepinbufl. He is now in prison for debt," sighed Rodin. "I taw him yesterday." 'You saw him yesterday? how strange! "said Ro-e-Pompon, clapping her hand. ' Quick! quirk! come over to Philemon', to give Cephyse news of her lover. She is so uneasy ahoutliim." "My dejr child, I should like to give her good Vr.iu-'iihtt.niilinf hia surprise and uneasiness Kodin did not frown. He began by Ming his news of that worthy fellow, whom I like in spite door after him, as ho noticed the young girls of his follies, for who has not Wen guilty of fol- inonisitive dance. Thou he said to her good- lies?" added Rodin, with indulgent good-nature. naUiredlv "who do you want, my dear?" "To he Mire," said Hose-Pompon, twisting "M, Kodin," repeated Kobe-Pompon, stoutly, ab ut as if she till wore the costume of a de blue eves to their full extent, bardeur. and looking Kodin full in the fare. " I will say more," added Kodin: " I love him lt'a imt tiin"atiid he. moving towards the because of his follies; for, talk as we may, my stairs. " I do not ki-ow him. Inquire above or dear child, there is always something good at lj.' bottom, a good heart, or something, in those who "No vou don't! giving yourself uirs at your spend generously their money for other people." i;,w,..!,ninimn. shrui'iriiiL' her should- UV11. come! vou are a very aood sort of ers. "As if wo did not know that you are M. man," said Rose-Pompon, enchanted with Ro Rodiu." din's philosophy. " Hut why will you not come " Chailemage," said the socius, bowing; " Char- and see Cephyse, and talk to her of Jacques?" lemagne, to serve you if I am able." Qf wiat use WOuld it be to tell her what shej " You are not ablo," answered Kose-Pompon, knows already that Jacques is in prison? What majestically; then she added with a mocking air, I should like, would be to get the worthy fellow " So, we have our little pussy-tat hiding-places; out of his scrape." wo change our name; we are afraid Mamma Ko- Oh, sir! only do that, only get Jacques out of din will find us out." prison, cried Kose-Pompon, warmly, "and we "Come, my dear child," said the socius, with a will both give you a kiss me and Cephyse!" paternal smile; "you have come to tho right " It would be throwing kisses away, dear little quarter. I am an old man, but I love youth madcap! " said Kodin, smiliug. " But be satis happy, joyous youth! Amuse yourself, pray, at ihd( I want no reward to induce me to do good my expense. Only let me pass, for 1 am in a when I can." hurry." And Kodin again advanced towards the Then you hope to get Jacques out of prison?" etairs. Kodin shook his head, and answered with a " M. Kodin," said Kose-Pompon, in a solemn grieved and disappointed air. "I did hope it. voice, " I have very important things to say to Certainly, I did hope it; but now all is changed." you, and advice to ask about a love affair." "How's that?" asked Kose-Pompon, with sur- " Why, little madcap that you are! have you prise, nobody to tease in your own house, that you " That foolish joke of calling me M. Rodin may must come here?" appear very amusing to you, my dear child. I "I lodge in this house, M. Rodin," answered understand it, you being only a echo. Someone Kose-Pompon, laying a malicious stress nu the has said to you: Go and tell M.Charlemagne name of her victim. that 8 one M Iiodin- Tliat will be very "You? Oh, dear, only to think I did not funny." know I had such a pretty neighbor." " Certainly, I should never myself have thought Vna t iinvn Iii.IitaiI 1. ro sir months. M. Ro. of callinii vou M.Rodin. One does not invent i VO A 11(1 I V IV'VlVV" . v -.. ..w - j - - - 1 li such names," answered Rose-Pompon. " Really! where?" " Well! that person, with his foolish jokes, has "On the third story, front, M. Rodin." done, without knowing it, an injury to Jacques "It was you, then, that sang so well just now?" Rennepont." " Rather." " Wrhat! because I called you Rodin instead of "You gave me great pleasure, I must say." Charlemagne?" cried Rose-Pompon, much re- " You are very polite, M. Kodin." gretting the pleasantry which she had carried on "You lodge, I suppose, with your respectable at the instigation of Ninny Mouliu. "But really, family? " sir," sho added, " what can this joke have to do "I believe you, M. Rodin," said Rose-Pompon, with the service that you were about to render casting down her eyes with a timid air. "I Jacques?" lodge with Grandpapa rhilemon, and Grand- " I am not at'liberty to tell you, my child. In mama Bacchanal who is a queen, and no mis- truth, I am very sorry for poor Jacques. Believe take." rne, I am; but do let me pass." Kodin had hitherto been seriously uneasy, not "Listen to me, sir, I beg, said Rose-Pompon; knowing in what manner Rose had discovered "if I told you the name of the person who told his real name. But on hearing her mention the me to call you Rodin, would you interest your Bacchanal Queen, with the information that she self again for Jacques?" lodged in the house, he found something to com- j (0 not wisll t0 kuow any one8 8ecrets, my pensate for the disagreeble incident of Rose-Pom- dear jjj jn ajj thi3j you jiave been the echo pon's appearance. It was, indeed, important to of per80n9 who are, perhaps, very dangerous Rodin to find out the Bacchanal Queen, the mis- notwithstanding the interest I feel for Jac tress of bleepinbuil, and the sister ol Mother que3 i;emiepontf I do not wish, you understand Tin ii oh. who hnd heen ncted as dancerous since .-lf AnAn;aa Uonron fnrKM?" , c I tU IHalkC liiYDvii cucmivc, ivui v or interview wim me suiieriui ui tuo ivucim, h . i i i n i?;o -i i.'AQa.rnmnnn n i i , hi. hi i i iucucuu iiuuiii a 111 11111 11. I aiia ine pan snenaa iaKen m u. pruju fears, and upon this he had counted; for, after a escape of Mdlle. de Cardoville. Moreover, Rodin flfloM- iha vm,ntr r resumej. hoped thanks to what he had just heard to L w .lh- : 'too deeD for me: X do not un bring Rose-Pompon to confess to him the name derstand u AU j know iS) that i am truly sorry of the person from whom she had learned that if t have injured a good young man by a mere "v,narieniagne maeu iwum. j win ten you exactly how it happened naruiy naa tne young gin prououncu mc My frankness may be of some use." "a7 V y T " Frankness will often clear up the most obscure ilia nanus, ami iiiucoicu as uiuvu omwuavu u . , ,. . . , , hl matters," said Rodin, sententiously internet orl I . "Oh, my dear child" he exclaimed, "I con- "After all," said Kose-Pompon, "it's Ninny's inre vou not to iest on this subiect. Are you fault. Why does he tell me nonsense, that might CnVin ,,nr rirl whn bears that nick, injure poor Cephyse's lover? Y'ou see, sir.it name, the sister of a deformed needlewoman?" happened in this way. Ninny Moulin, whois "Yes, sir, the Bacchanal Queen is her nick- fond of a joke, saw you just now in the street name said Rose-Pomnon. astonished in her The portress told him that your name was Char turn; "she is really Cephyse Soliveau, and she is my friend." " Oh! she is your friend? " said Rodin, reflect, ing. , " Yes, sir, my bosom friend." "So you love her?" " Like a sister. Poor girl! I do what for her. and that's not much. But how comes it lemagne. He said to me: "No; his name is Ko din. We must play him a trick. Go to his room Rose-Pompon, knock at the door, and call him M. Rodin. You will see what a rum face he wil make." I promised Ninny Moulin, not to name him; but I do it, rather than run the risk of in It T 91 I can juring Jacques. At Ninny Moulin's name Rodin had not been that a respectable man of your age should know able to repress a movement of surprise. This the Bacchanal Queen? Ah! that shows you have pamphletear, wnoni ne naa employed to eait me a false name! " " Neighborly Love," was not personally formida "My dear child, I am no longer inclined to ble; but, being fond of talking in his drink, he laueh"said Rodin, with so sorrowful an air, might become troublesome, particularly it ivoain that Rose-Pompon, reproaching herself with her as was probable, had often to vist this house, to nleasantry. said to him: "But how come it that execute ins project upon oieepinDun, mroug you know Cephyse? " "Alas! I do not know her but a young fellow, that I like excessively " the medium of the Bacchanal Queen. The socius resolved, therefore, to provide against this incon venience. " So, my dear child," said he to Rose-Pompon, "it is a M. lesmoulins that persuade-! you to play otr this silly joke? " "Not Desmoulins, but Dumoulin," corrected K be. "He writes in the pewholders' papers, and defends the saint Drinkard and Siint Flash ete, as he himself declares." "This gentleman appears to be very gay." "Oh! a very good fellow." "But stop," resumed Kodin. appearing to recol lect himself; " aint he a man about thirty-six or forty, fat, with a raddy complexion?" " Ruddy as a glass of red wine," said Kose-Pompon, "and with a pimpled nose like a mulbirry." "That's the man M. Dumoulin. Oil! in that case, I am quite satisfied, my dear child. The jest n longer makes me uneasy; for M." Duinoil in is a very worthy man only perhaps a little too fond of his joke." " Then, sir, you will try to be useful to Jacques? The stupid pleasantry of Ninny Mouliu will not prevent you? " " I hope not." " But I must not tell Ninny Moulin that you know it was he who sent me to call you M. Kodin eh, sir?" " Why not? In every case, my dear child, it s always better to speak frankly the truth." "But, sir, Ninny Moulin so strongly recom mended me not to name him to you " ' If you have named him, it is from a very good motive; why not avow it? However, my ear child, this concerns you, not me. Do as ou think best." ud may I tell Cephyse of your good inten- ions towards Jacques?" 'The truth, my dear child, always the truth. One need never hesitate to say what is." "Poor Cephyse! how happy she will be!" cried iose-Pompon, cheerfully; "and the news will come just in time." 'Only you must not exaggerate; I do not promise positively to get this good fellow out of prison; I say, that I will do what I can. But what I promise positively is for, since the im prisonment of poor Jacques, your friend most be very much staitened " Alas, sir! " " What I promise positively is, some little as sistance, which your friend will receive today, to enable her to live honestly; and if she behaves well hereafter why, hereafter, we shall see." Oh, sir! you do not know how welcome will be you assistance to poor Cephyse! One might fancy you were her actual good angel. Faith! you may call yourself Rodin, or Charlemagne; all I know is, that you are a nice, sweet "Come, come, do not exaggerate," said Rodin; Say a good sort of old fellow; nothing more, m 11 fti t it l 11 i my dear cnuu. uut see now inings ian out, sometimes! Who could have told me, when I heard you knock at my door which, I must say, vexed me a great deal that it was a pretty little neighbor of mine, who, under the pretext of playing off a joke, wa3 to put me in the way of doing a good action? Go and comfort your friend; this evening she will receive some assist ance; and let us have hope and confidence Thanks be, there are still some good people in the world! " " Oh, sir! you prove it yourself." " Not at all! The happiness of the old is to see the young happy." This was said by Rodin with so much kind ness, that Rose-Poinpon felt the tears well up to her eyes, and answered with much emotion: " Sir, Cephyse and me are only poor girls; there are many more virtuous in the world; but I ven ture to say, we have good hearts. Now, if ever you should be ill, only send for us; there are no Sisters of Charity that will take better care of you. It is all that we can offer you, without reckoning Philemon, who shall go through fire and water for you, I give you my word for it- and Cephyse, I am sure, will answer for Jacques also, that he will be yours in life and death." "You see, my dear child, that I was right in saying a fitful head and a good heart. Adieu till we meet again." Thereupon Rodin, taking up the basket, which he had placed on the ground by the side of his umbrella, prepared to descend the stairs. " First of all, you must give me this basket; it will be in vour way going down," said Rose- Pompon, taking the basket from the hands o Rodin, notwithstanding his resistance. Then she added: "Lean upon my arm. The stairs are so dark. You might slip." " I will accept your offer, my dear child, for am not very courageous." Leaning paternally on the right arm of Rose-Pompon, who held the basket in her left hand, Rodin descended the stairs, and crossed the caurt-yard " Up there, on the third story, do you see that big face close to the window-frame?" said Rose Pompon suddenly to Rodin, stopping in the ceu tre of the little court. " That is my Ninny Moul in. Do vou know him? Is he the same as yours? " "The same as mine," said Kodin, raising Lis hea l, aud waving his hand very affectionately to Jacques Dumoulin, who, eturK-tied thereat, re tired abruptly from the windo. The poor fellow! I am sure he is afraid of me since his foolish joke," said Rodin, smiling. " He is very wrong." And he accompanied these last words with sin ister nipping of the lips, not perceived by Rose Pompon. "And now, my dear child," said he, as they both entered the passage, " I no longer need your assistance; return to your friend, and tell her the good news you have heard." " Yes, sir, you are right. I burn with impa tience to tell her whit a good man you are." And Rose-Pompon spiung towards the stairs. "Stop, stop! how about my basket that the little madcap carries off with her!" said Rodin. "Oh, true! I beg pardon, sir. Poor Cephyse! how pleased she will be. Adieu, sir! " And Rose-Pompon's pretty figure disappeared in the darkness of the staircase, which she mounted with an alert and impatient step. Rodin issued from the entry. " Here is your basket, my good lady," said he, topping at the threshold of Mother Arsene's shop. " I give you my humble thanks for your kindness." " For nothing, my dear sir, for nothing. It is all at your service. Well! was the radish good?" " Succulent, my dear madame, and excellent." "Oh! I am glad of it. Shall we soon see you again: " I hope so. But could you tell me where is the nearest post-office? " "Turn to the left, the third house, at the gro er's." " A thousand thanks." " 1 wager it's a love letter for your sweetheart," said Mother Arsene, enlivened probably by Rose- ompon's and Ninny Moulin's proximity. " Ha! ha! ha! the good lady! " said Rodin, with titter. Then, suddenly resuming his serious aspect, he made a low bow to the green-grocer, adding: " Your most obedient, humble servant! and walked out into the street. We now usher the reader into Dr. Baleinier's asylum, in which Mdlle. de Cardoville was con fined. CHAPTER XXXII. THE ADVICE. Adrienne de Cardoville had been still more strictly confined in Dr. Baleinier's house, since the double nocturnal attempt of Agricola and Dagobert, in which the soldier, though severely wounded, and succeeded, thanks to the intrepid devotion of his son, seconded by the heroic Spoil- port, it gaining the little garden gate of the con vent, and escaping by way of the boulevard, along with the young smith. Four o'clock had just struck. Adrienne, since the previous day, had been removed to a chamber on the second story of the asylum. The grated window, with closed shutters, only admitted a faint light to this apartment. The young lady, since her in terview with Mother Bunch, expected to be de livered any day by the intervention of her friends. But she felt painful uneasiness on the subject of Agricola and Dagobert, being abso- utely ignorant of the issue of the struggle in which her intended liberators had been engaged with the people of the asylum and convent. She had in vain questioned her keepers on the sub ject; they had remained perfectly mute. These new incidents had augmented the bitter resent ment of Adrienne against the Princess de Saint Dizier, Father d'Aigrigny, and their creatuies. The slight paleness of Mdlle. de Cardoville's charming face, and her fine eyes a little droop ing, betrayed her recent sufferings; seated before a little table, with her forehead resting upon one of her hands, half veiled by the long curls of her golden hair, she was turning over the leaves of a book. Suddenly, the door opened, and M. Bal einier entered. The doctor, a Jesuit, in lay at tire, a docile and passive instrument of the will of his Order, was only half in the confidence of Father d'Aigrigny and the Princes de Saint Diz ier. He was ignorant of the object of the im prisonment of Mdlle. de Cardoville; he was ignor ant also of the sudden change which had taken place in the relative position of Father d'Aigrigny and Rodin, after the reading of the testament of Marius de Rennepont. The doctor had, only the day before, received orders from Father d'Aig rigny (now acting under the directions of Rodin) to confine Mdlle. de Cardoville still more strictly, to act towards her with redoubled severity, and to endeavor to force her, it will be seen by what expedients, to renounce the judicial proceedings, which she promised herself to take hereafter against her persecutors. At sight of the doctor, Mdlle. de Cardoville could not hide the aversion and disdain with which this man inspired her. M. Baleinier, on the contrary, always smiling, always courteous, approached Adrienne with per- "Jacques Rennepont?"